Stock waterer



May 26, 1925.

1,539,740 w. JOHNSON STOCK WATERER Filed April 1o 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 GEMM,

May Z6, 1925.

W. JOHNSON STOCK WATERER Filed April 10 1924 2 .Sheets-5h99?, 2

M m M Mja/577307? flttomwq Patented May 26, 1925.

UNITED STATT-3s WALTER. .ToHNsom or wAxoNnA, sou'rn. DAKOTA STOCK WATERER.

Application mea April 1o, 1924. vserial No. roam".

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER JOHN-SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wakonda, in .the count of Clay and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stock Waterers, ofv which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings- This. invention relates to certain impro-vements. in .stock waterers andV has relation more particularly to a device of this gen-l eralI character especially designed and adapted for use in connection withl hogs, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device ofV this general character comprising a normally empty tank or 'trough which is automatically supplied with a desired' amount of water upon the proper approach of the animal to the tank or trough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device of this general character comprising' a normally empty tank or trough in communication with` a source of water supply and with which is associated an electrically operatedpump, the circuit of'which is normally open, said circuit being automatically closed to operate the pump to deliver the desired amount of water within the tank or trough upon the proper approach of the animal', together with means whereby the circuit for the pump is broken when the level of the water within the tank or trough reaches a predetermined height.

The invention. consists in the details of construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my im proved stock wateren whereby certain im-Y portant advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed todescribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partlyv in section and of a somewhat diagrammatic character. illustratingl a stock waterer constructed. in accordance with anV embodiment of my invention.

Figurev 2 is a longitudinal verticalr sec`- tional View taken throu h they runway and water tank or trough an the parts concomitant thereto; and Y n Figure' '3 is a view in perspective ci? the structure as shown in Figurev 2, taken from' the inner or rear endl thereof;

As disclosed 'in the accompanying draw ings, T denotes a tank or troughl of' desired dimensions and which is supported at a sired elevation bythe parallel sills S. Thesills S extend beyond one endof the tank or trough T and the upper edges ofthe extensions of said sills are disposed downwardly on a predetermined incline. The*l outer extremities of said extensions are con'-v nected by a cross member l. The sills' S', or more particularly the extensions thereof,4 at a point in advance of but inrelativel' close proximity to the tank or trough are alsoy connected by a cross member 2', said cross member 21 being a desired distance below the lower edges' of the sills.

Extending upwardly from the end ortion ofV the tank or trough T remote rom the extensions of the sills S is a housing H, the bottom of which is open to afford unhindered communication though the housing within the trough or tank T and the forward wall 3 of the housing extends downwardly within the trough or tank lT and terminates at a point closely adjacent to the bottom 4' of the trough or tank whereby the rearl portion of the trough or tank T is divided to provide a ioat chamber C.

`Discharging, as at 5, within the lower portion of the float` chamber C and preferably through the rear wall' Grof the tank or trough T is a supply or feedl pipe line F. In com.- munication with the opposite or forward end portion of the trough or tank T through the bottom wall 4 is a stand 7, said standl being also in communication with. a discharge or outlet pipe line D.

A denotes a supply tank of desired capac.V ity and which is preferablyl located below the ground level and preferably within a subterranean chamber so that the water within said supply tank is protected against freezing. The discharge pipe line D leadsto the tank A and isv i'n communication therewithy at the, upper portion thereof.

The pipe line F leads from a pump P in suitable communication through' the pipe ine L with they lower portion of the suppty tank As herein disclosed", the pump P embodies a vertically disposed cylinder 8 in which is mountedl for rectilinearniovement a piston 9. The piston 9 is operatively engaged through the lmedium of the rod 10 with a driven wheel 11 so that, upon rotation of the wheel 1l, the piston 9 will be operated to draw the water from within the supply tank A to the trough or tank T. As herein disclosed, the rod 10 and the wheel 11 are in operative connection through the Ymedium of the'pitman 12. i Y Y As herein disclosed, the wheel 1l is in driven connection with the drive shaft 14 of an electric motor M. The wheel 11 and the motor M are operatively supported by a frame structure Bsuitablylocated within the subterranean chamber.

LR'. denotes a runway overlying the extensions olthe sills S and bridging the space therebetween. :The outer or lower eX- tremity of the runway R is pivotally or hingedly connected, as at l5, with the cross memberl whereby the runwayR is capable of swinging, moveinentvin a vertical direction. The runway R is cfa length toclosely approach the forward end of the trough or tank T and depending from said runway R at a point in relatively close proximity to kthe trough or tank T :is a rod k16 which -is also slidably disposed through the cross member 2 hereinbefore referred to.

Interposed between the runway Rand the cross member 2 is an expansible member 17 herein disclosed as a coil spring encircling the rod `1G land which expansible member or spring operates to normally maintain the inner or upper end portion ot the runway Ryraised orout of contact with `the sills S. 'In practice, I find it desirable to have the expansible member 0r spring 17 of a tension to withstand'a weight up to su-bstantiallytuf'enty pounds, although I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself in .this particular, as the tension of the member or spring 17 maybe varied lasi the necessities of practice may dictate.V Y

The runway R is of a width greater than the major width of the trough or `tank T' and extending outwardly from the upper or inner end of the runway R at one side of the tank or trough T Iis an arm 18 of' a length to extend a slight distance along a side of the trough or tank T. This arm 18 is continued by` an upwardly disposed extension or member 19 substantially in the form of an inverted U and which bridges the adjacent side wall 20 of the trough or tank T so that a leg 21 of said member 19 extends inwardly of the trough ortank T.

The lower or free end portion :of this interior leg 21 is provided with a foot'22 to which is operatively engaged thestem or rod23 of the valve'24. `Vhen the run-I way R is depressed,-the valve 24 is also moved downwardly and engages the seat 25 at the induction end of the stand 7 so that, whenV a hog or other animal is upon the runway R, flow through the pipe line D is closed. v

` The operating 'circuit for the motor M includes a conductor a leading from the inocr to a contact member 26 depending from the upper or inner end portion of the runway R and which contact member 26, when the runway Ri is depressedaelectricaiiy engages a contact 27 carried by the cross member 2. To insure the desired engagen'ient between `die contact members 26 and 27 and the seating-of the valve 24, the arm 18 is resilient` to compensate for any inequalities orv irregularities which may occur. i o 2 K Arranged within the housing H is a circuit closer X comprising a stationaryfcontact member 28 and a movable contact member 29, said movablecontact member 29, as herein disclosed, having swinging movement vin a. vertical direction. The contact 27 isy in electrical connection through the conductor with the stationary Vcontact 28 and the movable contact 29 is in electrical connection with the motor Ml through the conductor c. lnterposed in one, of the conductors, as a, is aosource E of. electrical energy. L

Yv'ithin' the iloat chamber Cris arranged a, float 80 provided witlranupstanding Vrod 8l operatively engaged withy a movable contact member 29. The-contact members 28 and 29 are normally in electricalyengageinent but `whenthe float 30 is moved upwardly by the rise of the wwater levelWithin the tank or trough T, the contact members 28 and 29 are separated so that the operating circuit for the motor M is broken.y lV hen themembers 28 and v29arein contact, the loat 30 is spaced va predetermined distance above the bottoni Ll of the tank or trough l said space being infaccordance with the maximum height of the water levelr desired within the trough. or tank T.v

When a hog or other animal walks upv the runway R, the runway will be depressed, resulting in the contacts 26 and 27 engaging to close Athe 'circuit for vthe motor M resulting in the pump Poperatmg to deliver water from within the ltank A` to the` tank ortrough T. As the'level ot the wa-V ter within the tank or trough T rises andl closely approaches the desired Water level, i

the iioat 3() will move upwardly, causing the. Contact' members.. 28 and 29 Ato separate, breaking the circuit for the motor and thereby stoppingthe pump P.

When the hogorother4 animal leaves the runway R, the eXpansible member orspring 17 vwill automatically raise or elevate'the` runway Reand atthe same time move the valve 24 in'toropen position so that thewaf i ter remainingwithin the tank or troughv T will discharge through the pipe line D back to the supply tank A. When the runway R is raised, the contact members 26 and 27 se arate and as the water passes from within the trough or tank T, the float 30 will lower and the contacts 28 and 29 return to their normal position.

During the period the hog or other animal is upon the runway R and drinking the water within the trough or tank T, my present invention assures the maintenance of the desired water level within the trough or tank T.

The lower portion of the line F is provided with a drain cock 32 and which is preferably adapted to be opened when the temperature is at freezing or below freezing. By this means, when the tank or trough T is drained, the water within the upper or exposed portion of the pipe line F will also be drained and thereby effectively avoiding the device becoming inoperative or otherwise hindered or obstructed by ice.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be. obvious that a stock waterer constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and forma tion of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. A waterer of the class described comprising a tank normally substantially empty, a feed line leading from a source of water supply and delivering within the tank, a discharge line in communication with the tanl; and leading therefrom, a pump interposed in the first named line, an electric motor for operating the pump, a depressible runway, the operating circuit for the motor being normally open, means operating upon depression of the runway to close the circuit, a valve for controlling the flow through the discharge pipe line, and means carried by the runway and associated with the valve to move the valve into closed position upon depression of the runway and to move the valve into open position when the runway is elevated. Y

2. A waterer of the class described comprising a tank normally substantially empty, a feed line leading from a source of water supply and delivering Within the tank, a discharge line in communication with the tank and leading therefrom, a pump interposed in the first named line, an electric motor for operating the pump, a depressible runway, the operating circuit for the motor being normally open, means operating upon depression of the runway to close the circuit, a valve for controlling the flow through the discharge pipe line, means carried by the runway and associated with the valve to move the valve into closed position upon depression of the runway and to move the valve into open position when the runway is elevated, and means for constantly urging the runway into a raised position.

3. A waterer of the class described comprising a tank normally substantially empty, a feed line leading from a source of water supply and delivering Within the tank, a a discharge line in communication with the tank and leading therefrom, a pump interposed in the first named line, an electric motor for operating the pump, a depressible runway, the operating circuit for the motor being normally open, means operating upon depression of the runway to close the circuit, a valve for controlling the flow through the discharge pipe line, means carried by the runway and associated with the valve to move the valve into closed position upon depression of the runway and to move the valve into open position when the runway is elevated, a normally closed circuit closer interposed in the operating circuit for the motor, and means operating upon the rise of the level of the water within the tank to open said closer.

4. A waterer of the class described com- I prising a tank normally substantially empty, a feed line leading from a source of water supply and delivering within the tank, a discharge line in communication with the tank and leading therefrom, a pump interposed in the first named line, an electric motor for operating the pump, a depressible runway, the operating circuit for the motor bein-g normally open, means operating upon depression of the runway to close the circuit, a valve for controlling the flow through the discharge pipe line, means carried by the runway and associated with the valve to move the valve into closed position upon depression of the runway and to move the valve into open position when the runway is elevated, a normally closed circuit closer interposed in the operating circuit for the mptor, and a float within the tank and operatively connected with said closer to open said closer upon upward movement of the float under the influence of the water discharged within the tank.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WALTER J OHNSON. 

